With Changing Seasons Come New Hazards
We love fall in Idaho. Temperatures cool, the leaves begin to change, and the world starts to transform. The autumn is a great time to go camping, spend time with family and friends, and get out and about. However, with the changing seasons come new environmental conditions that can make personal injuries and accidents more common.
Below we review two of the most common types of personal injuries and how the change of season affects how often they occur.
Slip & Fall Accidents
Slip, trip, and fall accidents are a subset of premises liability law. These accidents often occur because property owners and managers haven’t upheld their responsibility to ensure that their property is safe and hazard-free for visitors, customers, tenants, and citizens. With the advent of fall and winter, environmental hazards have increased, making this responsibility even more important.
Common hazards that can make premises unsafe:
- Fallen leaves and branches
- Water
- Mud
- Ice
- Snow
With rainstorms, early morning ice, and other weather-related hazards, property owners need to take care to ensure that visitors are not injured. This includes providing proper warning of known hazards, such as slippery or broken walkways, installing adequate lighting, removing obstructions from pathways, and making necessary repairs to their property.
Hazardous Roadways
Car and truck accidents are also common in the fall. With the change in weather and more hazardous weather and road conditions, accidents resulting in serious injury are more likely. Just as property owners are responsible for keeping their premises safe for visitors, drivers have a responsibility to other drivers to follow the rules of the road and to drive with care.
Common causes of car and truck accidents:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Bad weather
- Poor road conditions
- Defective car or truck parts
Unfortunately, many car accidents are the result of driver negligence or recklessness, and these accidents can be exacerbated by the colder weather. For example, water and ice is not uncommon on roadways in the early morning and at night. This makes roadways slippery, and ice patches can surprise a driver, making it more difficult to control their vehicle. If someone is distracted by their phone and looks up to see the car in front of them has stopped, ice and water may make it impossible for them to stop on time, resulting in a rear-end accident.
What To Do If You Are Injured
Medical care can be incredibly expensive, even if you have insurance. And insurance companies frequently do everything they can to avoid paying out claims. This can mean that you aren’t able to get the care you need. Furthermore, you may also be dealing with a decreased income due to time off of work or an injury-related disability that precludes you from returning to work. This is incredibly stressful.
You are not alone in this. Discussing your situation with a skilled personal injury lawyer is recommended if you or a loved one is injured in an accident. A lawyer can investigate the circumstances of your case, help you identify the cause and who is at fault, and review your legal options.
Our law firm has brought clients strong advocacy in all types of personal injury cases, and we are prepared to use this experience to help you with your case. Send us a message online to schedule a confidential case consultation.